Improvement in spring air-pistols



A. A... POPE.

SPRING AIR PISTOL No.17Z.58Z. Patented Jan.'2r5,18 76.

,VWVZUIQSSQS. 4,420 07% ALBERT A. POPE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN SPRING AIR-PISTOLS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 172,582, dated January 25, 1876; application filed November 22, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT A. POPE, of Boston, Suffolk county, Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Air Guns or Pistols, of which the following is a specification:

In this pistol the barrel is stationary with the stock and air-chamber, and is secured rigidly to them. The plunger moves independent] r of the barrel, and is pulled outward or set Figure l, a longitudinal section of a pistol embodying my improvements, while Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the same.

In these drawings, A represents the stock or frame of the pistol, it being of cast metal. B is the barrel, affixed rigidly and permanently to the upper part of the frame A, and communicating with the air-chamber G of such iraine by a passage, D.

This pistol is a breech-loading one, its rear end being closed by a movable breech-block or abutment, E, which may be attached in any suitable way to allow the end of the barrel to be opened to admit the dart. In the present instance this movable breechblock is a gate, a,'covering the rear end of the barrel, and pivoted upon a horizontal stud or screw, 1), disposed below the axis of the barrel. The breech E is chambered in front, as shown at c, this chamber constituting the termination of the bore of the barrel, and communicating with the air-chamber G by a passage, d, which, when the breech is in a firing position, coincides with the passage D, before named, and constitutes, with the latter, a means of communication between the said air-chamber G and the bore of the barrel.

Ido not confine myself to the form of breechblock as shown in the gate a, as it is obvious that various breech-closing devices, may be adapted to the purpose of closing the barrel.

The plunger of the air-chamber G is shown at E as fitted tightly within such chamber,

and forced rearward by a powerful spring, G, interposed between it and the outer cap or cover H of said chamber. The piston is drawn outward beyond the triggerI and cooked or set, and the spring contracted, by a rod, J, which passes loosely through the plunger and cap, and is formed at its inner end with a head, a, to overlap the plunger, and at its outer end with a knob, 12, or its equivalent, to enable it to be readily withdrawn.

As shown in the accompanying drawings this knob or pull 1) is the clasp which formerly clamped the barrel very tightly, and constituted the means whereby the barrel (which was movable) when drawnout also drew out the plunger and set the spring.

To avoid much change of construction, I have loosened the hold of the clasp b upon the barrel, and allow it to slide freely upon the latter, and constitute, as before stated, a means of withdrawing the plunger, and contracting the spring. It furthermore provides a steady bearing for the rod J and the plunger when the rod is withdrawn.

In operating with this pistol the breechblock E is removed or swung away from the rear end of the barrel, and the latter thus left open. The dart is inserted in the end of the barrel thus opened, and the breech-block closed. The plunger E is now drawn out by taking hold of the knob or clasp h and is cocked by means of the trigger I, and the spring Gr contracted, the rod being, preferably, returned to place before the trigger is pulled, although this is not necessary. The trigger is now pulled, and the plunger released from it is driven suddenly rearward, and the air in the chamber 0 is driven before it upward through the passage D and d and chamber a into the rear end of and through the barrel, intercepting the dart, and expelling the latter from the barrel.

I claim- The combination of the stationary barrel B, air-cylinder 'G, placed beneath, and parallel with, the barrel, spring-impelled plunger E, rod J, and movable breech E, arranged together substantially as shown and described.

ALBERT A. POPE. 

